Over the boards: Tavares centre of attention . . . Bruins on a roll
An Islanders game against Montreal, a team desperate for a No. 1 centre, meant John Tavares was sure to face questions about his future. “I hope to stay in Long Island,” Tavares said. “There’s a lot of positive things going forward with the organization and the team here. I haven’t thought about being anywhere else but with the Islanders.” Tavares is playing out the final season of a six-year, $33million (U.S.) deal.
FEEL THE BERN: Ex-Leaf goalie Jonathan Bernier established a career high with his sixth consecutive victory on Monday, and his ability to fill in for the oft-injured Semyon Varlamov is a big reason behind the success of the Avalanche. “That’s why (we) went after him (last) summer,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said of Bernier — who, like Varlamov, is 29. “He’s been a No. 1 in the past, he’s also been a backup ? he understands. He has some experience, and he’s eager to prove himself (here). I don’t know what to say about him besides he was excellent again. He’s stringing games together.”
GETTING HIS PHIL: Phil Kessel of the Penguins was tied for seventh in the NHL with 52 points (20 goals, 32 assists) heading into Tuesday’s action and has reached the 20-goal mark in 10 straight seasons. Elias notes that Kessel (from Madison, Wis.) became the third U.S.-born player in NHL history to reach the 20-goal mark in 10 consecutive seasons, and just the second active U.S.-born player to eclipse 700 career points (701), joining Blackhawks forward Patrick Kane (797). Wild forward — and Virginia, Minn., native — Matt Cullen was at 699.
BIG GOOD BRUINS: The Bruins are on a 9-0-4 run and have turned themselves into legitimate contenders. Still, they see flaws in their game and are starting to hold themselves to a higher standard. They’ve been getting off to poor starts, battling back to force overtime and the like. “We’d been focusing on having good starts, but we weren’t able to,” Boston defenceman Torey Krug said following an overtime loss to Dallas. “We found a way to come back, but there are definitely some parts to our game that we have to start looking at and sharpening up. I’m sure we’ll take a look at it.” The 13 games without a regulation loss tie the Vegas Golden Knights (12-0-1) for the longest such stretch this season.
SCRATCH THAT: When the Chicago Blackhawks made veteran defence- man Brent Seabrook a healthy scratch last week, it was a signal that the 32-year-old was entering the back half of his career. That he has 6 1⁄2 years left on a contract that carries a $6.875-million cap hit has made him the target of fans’ ire. In the dressing room, however, he remains beloved. “Whether things are going good or not so good for him personally, you would never know it because he’s always focused on getting the team going,” captain Jonathan Toews said. “Everybody has their ups and downs, and he does focus on himself to try to get his game together. But he’s such a great teammate and a great leader in this room. It was a shock not hearing him in that room (in Ottawa) since he’s been doing it for so long.”
ISLE BE THERE: The Islanders’ planned arena at Belmont Park is expected to take more than three years to complete, which would put the opening near the start of the 2021-22 season, according to a report from New York Newsday. The Islanders remain hopeful it can open sooner, because the team’s partners in the development are experienced in building stadiums and arenas. Islanders co-owner Jon Ledecky has steered clear of saying when the new arena will be ready.
STATS PACK: Avalanche centre Nathan MacKinnon has a goal in three straight outings, a seven-game point streak and has reached the 20-goal mark for the third time in five seasons . . . Tavares has 10 career regular-season OT goals, trailing only Alex Ovechkin (15) since 2009-10 . . . The Isles’ Thomas Greiss became the third goaltender to record at least 50 saves in a game in 2017-18, joining Colorado’s Varlamov (57 vs. Carolina, Nov. 2) and Anaheim’s John Gibson (50 vs. Florida, Nov. 19). Kevin McGran